Perforating machine



April 1942- L. G. THOMAS 2,279,211

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 g, gngmgn April 7, 1942- L. G. THOMAS 2,279,211

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 4 a. THOMAS 2,279,211

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 P 1942- e. IHOMAS 2,279,211

PERFQRATING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,279,211 PERFORATING MACHINE Leslie G. Thomas, Tenafly, N. J., assignor to Automatic Winding Company,

Inc., East Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 14, 1939, Serial No. 278,988

4 Claims.

This invention relates to perforating machines and more especially to machines for perforating hollow or tubular bodies.

In certain of the arts, for example the radio art, it is necessary to employ hollow tubular members having one or more perforations through the wall thereof. As examples of such members may be mentioned, coil forms of paper, Bakelite or similar material; metal shields or cans and the like, such as are used to enclose coils or other electrical elements. Heretofore, these changed to provide any desired number, distribution or shape of perforations.

Another object is to provide forating machine Another object is to provide a perforating machine for hollow or tubular memberswhich proaccurately located perforations the periphery thereof.

A feature of the invention relates to an automatic perforating machine for tubular members driven by an individual eccentric.

Another feature relates to an automatic per- 65.

forating machine for tubular articles, employing a plurality of eccentric-driven perforating punches mounted circumferentially around a central mandrel, the mandrel being subjected to oscillations in timed relation to that of the punches to compensate for the departure of the punches from a simple radial motion.

Another feature relates to an automatic perforating machine for tubulation articles and having a central work supporting mandrel with a plurality of radially cordingly in the drawings which show one preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along the line 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed views, partly diagrammatic to explain the rocking movement of of a machine shafts and mandrel.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one particular tubular member after having been perforated by the machine of Figs. 1 to 7.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a vertical main header I, and a front plate 2, both of which are fastened to a base plate 3, by bolts 4, 5. Members I and 2 are united at their four corners by shouldered tierods P and fastening nuts I. Front plate 2 is provided with an enlarged circular opening as shown in Fig. l to enable the tubular member or other article to be perforated to be inserted in the perforating mandrel. Members l and 2 are provided with aligned journal bearings to receive the punch actuating shafts G to II inclusive. These shafts are parallel to each other with their opposite ends journaled in the members i and 2 and are arranged in a circle around the central mandrel which is indicated generally at l3. Each shaft includes a reduced left-hand end portion I! (Fig. 4), which is journaled in a bearing 20 in member 2; a right-hand enlarged portion 2|, which is journaled in member I; and an intermediate eccentric portion 22; the end portions I9 and 20 of course being concentric with each other. All the shafts are of the same length with the exception of shafts G and i2. Shaft Ii extends outwardly beyond member I and has fastened thereto by screw 23, another eccentric 24 which has the same eccentric throw" as the eccentric shaft portion 22. Shaft 12 extends outwardly and forms the main power shaft for the machine and may carry a pulleyflywheel (not shown) driven intermittently by any suitable source of motive power.

Each shaft is held against longitudinal movement by a collar 25 fastened to its right-hand end by screw 25, the collar bearing against the corresponding flattened bearing boss 21, formed on member I. Fastened to each shaft section 2|, for example by pin 28 on the opposite side of member I, is a spur gear 29. The spur gears 29 are all in mesh with an externally tooth gear wheel 30 which is rotatably mounted on a shouldered bearing boss 3| formed centrally on the left-hand face (Fig. 4) of member I. The gear 30 is held in place by a flange 32 formed on the mandrel shaft 33 which is journaled in the member I. Mandrel shaft 33 is provided with a shouldered bore to receive the mandrel l8 which is formed of two concentric tubular members 34, 35. The mandrel member 34 is telescoped into the shaft 33 and is fastened thereto by a series of thumb screws 36, each passing through an enlarged opening 31 in the boss 38 on member I. Openings 31 are sufficiently large to allow the screws 35 to move in unison with shaft 33 and with the mandrel during the oscillating or rocking movement thereof. The outer part 35 of the mandrel is of larger internal diameter than the corresponding end of member 34 to which it is fastened by set screws 39. Members 34 and 35 therefore define an annular cylindrical space 40 to receive a tubular member T to be perforated, one of these tubular members T being shown in Fig. 8 after having been perforated.

Preferably, the outer mandrel member 35 is provided at its forward end with a cut-out portion 4| to facilitate the grasping and removal of the perforated tube after the perforation has been completed. If desired, the right-hand end of mandrel shaft 33 may be internally threaded at 42 to receive a conduit leading to a source of compressed air or vacuum and in this connection, it will be noted that there is a completely open path internally of the mandrel and mandrel shaft through which the punch-out material can be removed by the compressed air supply.

Fastened to the right-hand outer end of the mandrel shaft 33 by set screws 43, is an arm 44 which has its upper end bifurcated to engage the eccentric 24 so that the mandrel shaft 33 is oscillated or rocked in synchronism with the oscillation of the eccentric punch shaft sections 22.

Surrounding each of the eccentric shaft sections 22, is a cylindrical sleeve 45 which is freely rotatably on the eccentric shaft section so that as the latter rotates, the associated sleeve is subjected to a compound movement, this movement being mainly radial with respect to the mandrel l8 except for a slight transverse movement which, as described hereinbelow, is compensated for by a corresponding rocking of the mandrel so that the radial relation between the punches and the mandrel openings is maintained at all times.

Fastened to each of the sleeves 45 are one or more perforating punch assemblies, one of which is shown in perspective detail in Fig. 7. Each punch assembly comprises a punch carrier 46, having an enlarged slot 41 whereby it may be slipped readily on to the sleeve 45. In order to clamp the punch assembly tightly to the sleeve 45, an arcuately curved metal insert 48 is assembled between the sleeve 45 and the straight-sided part of slot 41. A screw 49 passes through arm 50 and has its forward end threaded into the part 41 so that by tightening the screw 49, the punch holder 40 is rigidly clamped in the proper place and position on sleeve 45 radially with respect to the mandrel. The forward end of carrier 46 is provided with a recess to receive the punch 5i which is held in place by set screw 52.

Because of the length of the sleeve 45, one or more punch assemblies can be fastened in place on each sleeve depending upon the number and distribution of the perforations desired in the article T. Furthermore, the punches can be readily replaced merely by removing the screws 49 and the metal inserts 48. If the punches are not to be removed from the punch shafts but are to be changed in position longitudinally thereof, all that is necessary is to loosen the screw 49 and slide the punch along the sleeve 45 to the particular position where the perforation is desired. It will be understood of course that the number and positions of the punch assemblies will be determined by the number and distribution of the perforations 53 in the mandrel members 34, 35, it being understood that the corresponding openings in members 34, 35, are in radial alignment so as to allow the punches 5| to pass through both parts of the mandrel and through the article to be perforated. Preferably, the eccentricity of shaft sections 22 is so designed that for the extreme outward radial position of the punches, they never leave the openings in the outer mandrel member 35. Fig, 5 shows one of the punches in its extreme inward position just after having completed a perforation in the tube T; while Fig. 6 shows the punch in its extreme outward position where it is still in registry with the corresponding opening in the outer mandrel member 35.

Because of the fact that the punch assemblies are operated by an eccentric sleeve, the movement of the punches with respect to the mandrel is not entirely a simple radial movement and if means are not provided to maintain the correct radial relation between the punches and the mandrel openings, the punches would eventually be distorted or broken, or would produce non-uniform perforations. The machine overcomes these disadvantages by rocking the mandrel sections 34, 35, in unison with the rocking of the sleeves 45 by means of the eccentric 24 which acts through arm 44 on the mandrel shaft 33. By means of this arrangement therefore, the punches are at all times in the same radial alignment with the mandrel openings. Consequently, the said openings can be made a close fit with respect to the punches thus insuring accurate radial movement and accurate perforating of the article T.

Preferably, the shaft I2 is driven intermittently so that after an attendant inserts the article T between the mandrel sections 34 and 35, then by means of a manually or treadle operated clutch, the shaft l2 may be given a complete revolution. Consequently, all the punch shafts and all the punches are moved simultaneously and in a true radial direction with respect to the mandrel notwithstanding they are eccentrically operated. Preferably, the clutch is so arranged that it automatically throws itself out after the shaft II has made a complete revolution. Inasmuch as intermittent drive or clutch mechanisms are Well-known in the art, any well-known type may be employed to control the intermittent rotation of shaft l2.

When it is desired to change the number or distribution of the perforations in the article to be perforated, a different mandrel is provided. For this purpose, all the punches are loosened on their respective punch shafts by loosening screws 49 and removing inserts 48, to enable the punches 5| to be moved out of registry with the mandrel openings. The thumb screws 36 are then loosened enabling the mandrel to be removed and replaced with any desired mandrel. When the proper mandrel has been placed in position the thumb screws 36 are tightened and the punch assemblies are then assembled on their respective punch shafts so that the punches 5| enter the corresponding openings in the mandrel member 35. When the punches have been properly aligned radially, the inserts 48 are replaced and screws 49 are tightened to lock the punch assemblies in their proper position.

While in the foregoing description, there has been disclosed a circular mandrel for perforating a circularly cylindrical article such as a Bakelite tube, it will be understood that the machine may be used for perforating any other shape of article, for example if a rectangular tube or can is to have its side walls perforated, then a correspondingly shaped mandrel consisting of spaced inner and outer rectangular sections 34, 35, will be employed to enable the rectangular article to be inserted in the same manner as described above. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the invention is not limited necessarily to an actual perforation of the article T, since by regulating the length of the punches 5|, the reciprocating movement of the punches may be stopped short of actual perforation, thus enabling the machine to be used as a marking machine for impressing any desired marks or impressions on the outer surface of a tubular, hollow or curved article. It will be obvious of course that the punches 5| may be of any desired cross section at their punching end in accordance with the desired shape of perforation or mark to be made in the article.

While the invention has been disclosed in one particular embodiment, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A machine of the character described, comprising a main driving gear, a plurality of individual gears arranged to be driven by said main gear, a shaft fastened to each of said individual gears, all said shafts being parallel to one another, an eccentric operated by each shaft, a work receiving mandrel shaft centrally disposed with respect to the first-mentioned shafts, and eccentric means linking one of said individual shafts to the mandrel shaft to oscillate the mandrel shaft in synchronism with the oscillation of the first-mentioned eccentrics.

2. A machine according to claim 1, in which each of said first-mentioned eccentrics has removably fastened thereon one or more tools which are oscillated radially with respect to the mandrel shaft when said eccentrics are rotated.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of parallel eccentric shafts, a central work receiving shaft surrounded by said eccentric shafts, means to rotate said eccentric shafts in unison to oscillate said tools in unison toward and away from said central shaft, and means to oscillate said central shaft in synchronism with said eccentric shafts, the last-mentioned means including an eccentric operated by one of said eccentric shafts and a link having one end fastened to said central shaft and the other end operatively engaging the lastmentioned eccentric.

4. A machine comprising a central mandrel arranged to receive an article to be perforated, a plurality of reciprocable perforating punches mounted around said mandrel, means to reciprocate said punches in a substantially radial direction with respect to said mandrel, said mandrel being formed of two tubular members spaced apart from each other and between which the article to be perforated is received, said tubular members having aligned openings to receive the corresponding perforating punches and in which the outer one of the mandrel members is provided with a finger slot to facilitate removal of the perforated article.

LESLIE G. THOMAS. 

